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Father's emotional plea after death of his daughter from methanol poisoning

<p>The grieving father of 19-year-old Bianca Jones, who tragically died after consuming methanol-laced cocktails in Laos, has issued a plea to ensure his daughter’s death was not in vain.</p> <p>Bianca and her friend Holly Bowles had been travelling around south-east Asia on a gap year trip when they consumed the deadly drinks in the party town of Vang Vieng, a popular tourist area about 130km north of Laos capital, Vientiane.</p> <p>Both Bianca and Holly were rushed to seperate hospitals in Thailand, and passed away last week. </p> <p>Speaking publicly for the first time about the tragedy, Bianca’s father Mark Jones, said his daughter’s “lust for life and adventure” had “cruelly been cut short”.</p> <p>“Our daughter was on the trip of a lifetime with one of her best mates,” he said.</p> <p>“This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories, and was to be the first of many. Bianca wanted to explore the world, meet new friends, lead and create change for good.”</p> <p>Following the deaths of the two young women, an outpouring of sympathy flooded in from around Australia including from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, while hundreds attended a vigil held in the women’s honour in Melbourne on Saturday.</p> <p>Mr Jones thanked Australian government for its support but made a plea to authorities in Laos.</p> <p>“I would like to take this opportunity to urge the Laos government to investigate this to the fullest extent, to make sure this incident doesn’t happen again,” he said.</p> <p>“We can’t have the passing of our daughter … not lead to change to protect others. Young men and women should be able to travel, create their own life experiences and be safe."</p> <p>“We’ll forever miss our beautiful girl and hope her loss of life has not been in vain.”</p> <p>The Laotian government has promised to bring perpetrators to justice after the mass poisoning that has killed six tourists, including the two Australian women.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine News / Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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"Alive and well": Fans confused over Dr Harry Cooper death announcement

<p>Dr Harry Cooper and Channel Seven have been forced to clarify that the famous TV vet is alive and kicking after his Wikipedia page stated he had died. </p> <p>According to Cooper's Wiki page, the TV personality died at the age of 80 on November 16th 2024.</p> <p>However, Ben Fordham and his 2GB team have confirmed that this is not the case. </p> <p>"[Dr. Harry] has had a bit of a shock this week, courtesy of something that appeared online," explained Fordham on his popular radio show.</p> <p>"This week we were contacted by a listener, they alerted us to the fact that according to Google and Wikipedia, Dr. Harry Cooper was no longer with us!"</p> <p>Fordham explained that he had done his own investigations of the claims and observed the Wikipedia page in question, which read that "Dr. Harry Cooper OAM, more commonly known as Dr. Harry, an Australian vet and TV personality best known for his media appearances, born February 20, 1943, died November 16, 2024."</p> <p>The unofficial death notice prompted several listeners to reach out to the team at 2GB, asking if they'd heard any news about Dr. Harry's alleged death.</p> <p>"A fan of Dr. Harry Cooper got in touch w us a couple of days ago and said, 'Did you know that Dr. Harry had died?," shared Fordham.</p> <p>"And we all looked at each other and said, 'No?'</p> <p>"And then we got another message, 'Can you confirm that Dr. Harry has passed away?' Again, we were looking online, and he was in New Idea at the start of the year celebrating his 80th birthday."</p> <p>"And the most recent story about Dr. Harry was from September, when he visited a camel farm."</p> <p>In order to confirm once and for all, Fordham reached out to the Seven Network, who provided a statement revealing the good news that, "Harry is alive and well."</p> <p>"After tipping off Seven, the reference to his death has been removed from Wikipedia," Fordham added. "So, its another reminder – you can't believe everything you read."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Allison Voight/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

Caring

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Fifth death confirmed in Laos poisoning

<p>A young British lawyer has died in hospital after a suspected mass poisoning that has claimed the lives of four others. </p> <p>On Thursday, Melbourne teen Bianca Jones became the fourth person to die from suspected methanol poisoning following the deaths of two Danish women and an American who had all been holidaying in the in the party town of Vang Vieng. </p> <p>Lawyer Simone White, 28, was among a dozen other tourists taken to hospital after visiting the backpacker town, with Thai police confirming her death on Friday morning. </p> <p>In a statement to <em><a href="https://7news.com.au/news/british-lawyer-simone-white-in-hospital-after-apparent-mass-methanol-poisoning-in-laos-c-16833986" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a></em>, a spokesperson for Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed a death in Laos, saying, “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities.”</p> <p>Her friend Bethany Clarke, who was with White on holiday, urged tourists in the region to “avoid all local spirits” after their group of six fell ill.</p> <p>“Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars. Just avoid them as so not worth it,” she wrote in a Laos backpacking Facebook group.</p> <p>“Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.”</p> <p>Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Jones, 19, in federal parliament on Thursday after news of her death was shared, as her friend Holly Bowles continues to fight for her life in a Bangkok hospital.</p> <p>“This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure,” Albanese said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Second Bee Gees member dies within four days

<p>Drummer Byron Dennis, who played a pivotal role in the success of The Bee Gees, has died just days after one of the original band members also <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/original-bee-gees-star-passes-away-aged-78" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away</a>. </p> <p>Touring drummer Dennis Bryon died aged 76 in Nashville on November 14th, just four days before original Bee Gees drummer Colin “Smiley” Petersen.</p> <p>The news of Bryon’s death was confirmed by his former bandmate, Blue Weaver, who performed alongside him in another band before he joined the Bee Gees.</p> <p>“I am lost for words at the moment. Dennis has passed away,” Weaver wrote in a heartfelt social media post.</p> <p>“Dennis has been my friend since we were in our first band together aged 15. His great drumming will always Stay Alive.”</p> <p>Bryon was the group's drummer between 1973 and 1981, and played on some of the Bee Gees’ most iconic disco hits, including <em>Stayin’ Alive</em> and <em>Night Fever</em>.</p> <p>Just days before Dennis's tragic death, the Bee Gees original drummer Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen, as the band confirmed the news of his passing with a post on social media. </p> <p>“It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our dear friend Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen,” the post read.</p> <p>“He enriched our lives and bound our group with love, care and respect."</p> <p>“Not sure how we can go on without his glowing smile and deep friendship. We love you Col. Rest in Peace.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Mediapunch/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p> <p class="css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020" style="box-sizing: border-box; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word; margin: 0px 0px 1.125rem; line-height: 25px; font-size: 1.125rem; font-family: HeyWow, Montserrat, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; caret-color: #292a33; color: #292a33;"> </p>

Caring

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Beloved Aussie musician dies days after revealing cancer diagnosis

<p>Australian musician Richard Andrew has tragically died at the age of 58, just seven days after announcing he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. </p> <p>Andrew, who has long been a fixture of the Melbourne music scene, passed away on October 30th, with his grieving wife confirming his death on a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-nikki-through-tragedy-honouring-richards-legacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page. </p> <p>Andrew's wife, Nicolette Powell, is now faced with mourning the sudden loss of her husband while caring for her mother, who is grappling with a terminal brain tumour.</p> <p>"Nicolette's beloved husband, Richard, a well-known and iconic figure in Melbourne's music scene, recently passed away suddenly from cancer," the GoFundMe page's tribute to Andrew began.</p> <p>"Richard was a talented musician who left his mark in bands like Underground Lovers, Crow and Black Cab as well as his own band Registered Nurse and more recently his solo project RJ Andrew."</p> <p>"He was also the founder of Pharmacy Records. He poured his heart and soul into his music, and his legacy will be felt across Melbourne's music community for years to come."</p> <p>Just one week before his untimely death, Andrew revealed to his fans he had been diagnosed with lung cancer in a social media message shared alongside a photo from his wedding to Powell.</p> <p>"After my last unsuccessful attempt to jump 17 double decker buses – A) this may go someway towards explaining being in a wheelchair and, B) the fact I'm getting married to the beautiful Nicolette Powell, in this photo," he wrote on Facebook.</p> <p>"Alas, although the marriage is definitely true and based on love, the double decker bus is, sadly, not quite the truth. Instead, a few month ago, I was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic lung cancer, which has been a billy cart ride down s**t street, for the last little while."</p> <p>Andrew then went on to issue a public farewell to his fans and loved ones.</p> <p>"I am completely reconciled to whatever the future is, however, that future is probably quite limited and I'm in the process of preparing to pop this mortal coil and return to the trees, as it were," he wrote.</p> <p> </p> <p>"I cannot overstate enough what an honour and a privilege it has been to know you all over the last 58 years, and to have lived the most incredible, incredible life."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / GoFundMe</em></p>

Caring

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Hospice nurse reveals people's last words before they die

<p>A hospice nurse has revealed the number one thing people say in their final moments before they die. </p> <p>Healthcare expert Julie McFadden, who makes online videos discussing death to help break the taboo around dying, has shared the three most common regrets patients share on their death beds. </p> <p>Speaking to NHS surgeon Dr Karan Rajan on his podcast, Julie said these final discussions tend to centre around what they've taken for granted. </p> <p>"The first one I hear all the time is that they regret not appreciating their health while they had it," Ms McFadden said, reflecting on her 15 years of working in the health sector. </p> <p>"That's the number one thing people say to me, I wish I would have understood how amazing it is to have a working body."</p> <p>The second regret she often hears is people admitting they "worked too much" and wish they hadn't worked their life away, and rather spent time doing things that brought them joy. </p> <p>Finally, she revealed in the clip shared to Instagram, that many dying patients have regrets about relationships. </p> <p>The nurse explained people either wish they had maintained certain relationships and friendships, or regret holding grudges.</p> <p>Dr Rajan responded to Ms McFadden's insight with a story of a young patient that made him realise we are not 'immortal' and we should not take our life "for granted". </p> <p>In the clip shared with his 1.5million followers he said, "A few years ago when I saw a young woman come in with pancreatitis in her 20s, within three hours this young woman is in the intensive care unit, she's intubated, ventilated, and the next day, she had passed away."</p> <p>"That just made me think wow, I'm in my 30s now, I'm 34, life can just go in a flash. So yes, truly don't take it for granted, we sometimes have this tendency to walk around like we're immortal."</p> <p><em>Image credits: YouTube</em></p>

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Original Bee Gees star passes away aged 78

<p>Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen has passed away aged 78. </p> <p>News of his death was posted on the official Facebook page of tribute band Best of the Bee Gees. </p> <p>“It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our dear friend Colin ‘Smiley’ Petersen,” they began. </p> <p>“He enriched our lives and bound our group with love, care and respect.</p> <p>“Not sure how we can go on without his glowing smile and deep friendship. We love you Col. Rest in Peace.”</p> <p>Petersen who was one of the original members of Australian band Bee Gees was born in Kingaroy, Queensland, has been credited for contributing to the band's rise to global superstardom. </p> <p>He was the band's first drummer and performed some of their most beloved songs including <em>Massachusetts, To Love Somebody</em> and <em>Words</em>.</p> <p>Petersen attended the same school in Redcliffe, Queensland as bandmates and brothers Barry Robin and Maurice Gibb, where he first developed an interest in music. </p> <p>After graduating, Petersen moved to the UK to break into the film industry, before he joined the Bee Gees in the 60's becoming the first non-Gibb brother to join the group. </p> <p>“There was an understanding that when the Gibbs’ arrived in England, that if the film thing didn’t work out, I’d join their band,” Petersen told Geelong Independent in 2022.</p> <p>“So I became the fourth Bee Gee, and that was obviously a big turning point in my life.”</p> <p>He left the band after the first phase of their career, just before they reached peak stardom in the '70s disco era, due to conflicts with the group's then-manager Robert Stigwood.</p> <p>Petersen moved back to Australia with his family in 1974, and in 2019 he joined the tribute group Best of the Bee Gees.</p> <p>His death comes after Maurice's sudden death in 2003, which prompted the Bee Gees to retire after 45 years. </p> <p>Robin later died in 2012 aged 62, leaving Barry, Vince Melouney and Geoff Bridgford as the last surviving members of the group.</p> <p>Petersen is survived by his ex-wife Joanne Newfield and their sons Jaime, born in 1971, and Ben, born in 1976.</p> <p><em>Image: </em><em>Everett Collection</em><em style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Queen Camilla "heartbroken" by death of rescue dog

<p>Queen Camilla, who is recovering from a chest infection, has had to make the tough decision of putting her beloved pet dog, Beth, down after she was diagnosed with an untreatable tumour. </p> <p>The news was revealed by Buckingham Palace in a message shared to social media, which read:  "A sad farewell to Beth, the Queen's much-loved companion from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home who brought such joy, whether on walkies, helping on official duties, or curled up by the fire".</p> <p>The 77-year-old royal is said to be "heartbroken" by the loss over the weekend. </p> <p>Beth was rescued by Camilla in 2011, and because she was a rescue, the animal charity was never sure of Beth's age. </p> <p>The royal later adopted another Jack Russell, Bluebell, soon after getting Beth, when she became patron of  Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2017, taking over from the late Queen Elizabeth II.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCg830XISLD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCg830XISLD/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Recalling the moment she found Bluebell, the Queen previously told <em>BBC Radio 5 Live</em>: "Along I went to Battersea, and Beth appeared, and she had just been moved from pillar to post and dumped.</p> <p>"We thought it would be nice for her to have a friend. They found [Bluebell] two or three weeks later, wandering about in woods, no hair on her, covered in sores, virtually dead. And they nursed her back to life and her hair grew again.</p> <p>"She's very sweet, but a tiny bit neurotic, shall we say.</p> <p>"The nice thing about dogs is you can sit them down, you could have a nice long conversation, you could be cross, you could be sad and they just sit looking at you, wagging their tail."</p> <p>The two dogs were often by her side at public events and were even featured in an official portrait alongside Camilla. </p> <p>Pictures of her two pups were also embroidered onto the Queen's Coronation gown. </p> <p>Camilla once said of her dogs: "I cannot imagine my life, my home or my sofas without them".</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram/ The Royal Family</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Dolly Parton struck by family tragedy

<p>Dolly Parton's older brother David Wilburn Parton has passed away at the age of 82. </p> <p>The news was shared by their sister, Stella Parton, on social media. </p> <p>"My brother David Passed away peacefully this morning. It's never easy to say goodbye to a loved one but he got his angel wings and is now at peace," she initially wrote on X, formerly Twitter. </p> <p>She shared another post on Facebook on Friday November 15 (Saturday November 16 in Australia),  "It's never easy to lose a loved one. My wonderful brother David Parton passed in the early hours of the morning."</p> <p>The following day, she thanked everyone for their thoughts and prayers in a follow-up post, "Thank you for all your kind thoughts to my family as we continue to grieve the loss of our much loved and cherished oldest brother David."</p> <p>While a specific cause of death has not been revealed, David's obituary, posted online by Farrar Funeral Home in White Pine, Tennessee, confirmed that he passed away at his home.</p> <p>"The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. David McNabney, Smoky Mountain Home Health &amp; Hospice, his Cornerstone caregiver, Aubrie Smith &amp; caregiver, Robin Schmidt," the obituary read. </p> <p>Dolly has yet to comment on the death. </p> <p>David is the oldest son among Dolly's 11 siblings, which include six brothers and five sisters. Among them, those remaining include Willadeene, 84, Coy, 81, Robert Jr., 76, Stella, Cassie, 73, Frieda, 67, Rachel, 65.</p> <p>Unlike his famous siblings, David stayed out of the spotlight and had a thriving career as a bridge builder superintendent, working on many of the bridges in Tennessee.</p> <p>He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kay Parton, as well as three children and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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Hospice nurse shares what happens to the body after death

<p dir="ltr">A hospice nurse has revealed the reality of what happens to our bodies in the minutes, hours and days after we die. </p> <p dir="ltr">In her efforts to break down the taboo around conversations about death, Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse from the US, posts candid videos about death and dying to help us be more informed and prepared. </p> <p dir="ltr">In Julie’s latest video, she explains exactly what happens to the human body in the moments, hours and days after someone dies. </p> <p dir="ltr">Nurse Julie said that in the immediate moments after death, the body completely relaxes, beginning the first stage of decomposition, called hypostasis.</p> <p dir="ltr">“All of the things in your body that are holding fluids in, relaxes. That's why death can be messy sometimes.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She clarified that because of how relaxed the body becomes, those who have just died may urinate, have bowel movements or experience bodily fluids coming out of their nose, mouth, ears or eyes. </p> <p dir="ltr">Nurse Julie added, “I like to talk about it so people aren't surprised if that happens - very normal and to be expected sometimes.”</p> <p dir="ltr">This is also when the stage of decomposition called autolysis, or “the self-digestion” stage, occurs and enzymes begin to break down oxygen-deprived tissue, also causing the body temperature to drop. </p> <p dir="ltr">As the body settles in the hours after death, Nurse Julie said the blood will begin to pool downward toward the ground.</p> <p dir="ltr">She said, “If you let someone lie there for long enough - which we do sometimes; you don't have to hurry up and make sure your loved one leaves the house - if you turn them you will notice usually the back of their legs the whole backside of them will look purple or darker that's because all their blood is pulling down.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Gravity is pulling it down. So they will eventually get a darker colour tone of skin on their backside.”</p> <p dir="ltr">One to two hours after death is also when rigor mortis - or the stiffening of a body’s muscles - sets in and continues for about the next 24 hours</p> <p dir="ltr">Nurse Julie said, “I have seen people become very stiff almost immediately - like a few minutes - after death and other people, their body takes longer.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Additionally, about 12 hours after death, the body will feel cool to the touch. </p> <p dir="ltr">About a day to a day and a half after a person dies, rigor mortis subsides and the body will begin to loosen again, as Nurse Julie said the body's tissues relax and cause the stiffness to break down.</p> <p dir="ltr">By this time, the body is usually in the mortuary, which will prepare the body in whichever way the family has requested, whether it is for burial or cremation. </p> <p dir="ltr">She added, “In a world where people didn't have access to a mortuary or a healthcare system and they just died naturally, our bodies are built to, after death, decompose.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Shutterstock / Instagram / YouTube</em></p>

Body

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Can you die from long COVID? The answer is not so simple

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rose-shiqi-luo-1477061">Rose (Shiqi) Luo</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/catherine-itsiopoulos-14246">Catherine Itsiopoulos</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-anderson-1412897">Kate Anderson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/magdalena-plebanski-1063786">Magdalena Plebanski</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/zhen-zheng-1321031">Zhen Zheng</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p>Nearly five years into the pandemic, COVID is feeling less central to our daily lives.</p> <p>But the virus, SARS-CoV-2, is still around, and for many people the effects of an infection can be long-lasting. When symptoms persist for more than three months after the initial COVID infection, this is generally referred to as <a href="https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/fact-sheets/item/post-covid-19-condition">long COVID</a>.</p> <p>In September, Grammy-winning Brazilian musician <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-07/brazilian-musician-sergio-mendez-dies-at-83/104323360">Sérgio Mendes</a> died aged 83 after reportedly having long COVID.</p> <p><a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/covid-19-mortality-australia-deaths-registered-until-31-july-2023">Australian data</a> show 196 deaths were due to the long-term effects of COVID from the beginning of the pandemic up to the end of July 2023.</p> <p>In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 3,544 <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20221214.htm">long-COVID-related deaths</a> from the start of the pandemic up to the end of June 2022.</p> <p>The symptoms of <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/long-covid">long COVID</a> – such as fatigue, shortness of breath and “brain fog” – can be debilitating. But can you die from long COVID? The answer is not so simple.</p> <h2>How could long COVID lead to death?</h2> <p>There’s still a lot we don’t understand about what causes long COVID. A popular theory is that “zombie” <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2300644120">virus fragments</a> may linger in the body and cause inflammation even after the virus has gone, resulting in long-term health problems. Recent research suggests a reservoir of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1198743X24004324?via%3Dihub">SARS-CoV-2 proteins</a> in the blood might explain why some people experience ongoing symptoms.</p> <p>We know a serious COVID infection can damage <a href="https://covid19.nih.gov/news-and-stories/long-term-effects-sars-cov-2-organs-and-energy#:%7E:text=What%20you%20need%20to%20know,main%20source%20of%20this%20damage">multiple organs</a>. For example, severe COVID can lead to <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid-long-haulers-long-term-effects-of-covid19">permanent lung dysfunction</a>, persistent heart inflammation, neurological damage and long-term kidney disease.</p> <p>These issues can in some cases lead to death, either immediately or months or years down the track. But is death beyond the acute phase of infection from one of these causes the direct result of COVID, long COVID, or something else? Whether long COVID can <em>directly</em> cause death continues to be a topic of debate.</p> <p>Of the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr025.pdf">3,544 deaths</a> related to long COVID in the US up to June 2022, the most commonly recorded underlying cause was COVID itself (67.5%). This could mean they died as a result of one of the long-term effects of a COVID infection, such as those mentioned above.</p> <p>COVID infection was followed by heart disease (8.6%), cancer (2.9%), Alzheimer’s disease (2.7%), lung disease (2.5%), diabetes (2%) and stroke (1.8%). Adults aged 75–84 had the highest rate of death related to long COVID (28.8%).</p> <p>These findings suggest many of these people died “with” long COVID, rather than from the condition. In other words, long COVID may not be a direct driver of death, but rather a contributor, likely exacerbating existing conditions.</p> <h2>‘Cause of death’ is difficult to define</h2> <p>Long COVID is a relatively recent phenomenon, so mortality data for people with this condition are limited.</p> <p>However, we can draw some insights from the experiences of people with post-viral conditions that have been studied for longer, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).</p> <p>Like long COVID, <a href="https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/5/e058128">ME/CFS</a> is a complex condition which can have significant and varied effects on a person’s physical fitness, nutritional status, social engagement, mental health and quality of life.</p> <p>Some research indicates people with ME/CFS are at <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5218818/">increased risk</a> of dying from causes including heart conditions, infections and suicide, that may be triggered or compounded by the debilitating nature of the syndrome.</p> <p>So what is the emerging data on long COVID telling us about the potential increased risk of death?</p> <p>Research from 2023 has suggested adults in the US with long COVID were at <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2802095">greater risk</a> of developing heart disease, stroke, lung disease and asthma.</p> <p>Research has also found <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9721155/">long COVID</a> is associated with a higher risk of <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21642850.2022.2164498#abstract">suicidal ideation</a> (thinking about or planning suicide). This may reflect common symptoms and consequences of long COVID such as sleep problems, fatigue, chronic pain and emotional distress.</p> <p>But long COVID is more likely to occur in people who have <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/covid-19/long-covid-in-australia-a-review-of-the-literature/summary">existing health conditions</a>. This makes it challenging to accurately determine how much long COVID contributes to a person’s death.</p> <p>Research has long revealed <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7302107/">reliability issues</a> in cause-of-death reporting, particularly for people with chronic illness.</p> <h2>So what can we conclude?</h2> <p>Ultimately, long COVID is a <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/chronic-conditions/about-chronic-conditions">chronic condition</a> that can significantly affect quality of life, mental wellbeing and overall health.</p> <p>While long COVID is not usually immediately or directly life-threatening, it’s possible it could exacerbate existing conditions, and play a role in a person’s death in this way.</p> <p>Importantly, many people with long COVID around the world lack access to appropriate support. We need to develop <a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2024/221/9/persistent-symptoms-after-covid-19-australian-stratified-random-health-survey">models of care</a> for the optimal management of people with long COVID with a focus on multidisciplinary care.</p> <p><em>Dr Natalie Jovanovski, Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow in the School of Health and Biomedical Sciences at RMIT University, contributed to this article.</em><!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/239184/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rose-shiqi-luo-1477061"><em>Rose (Shiqi) Luo</em></a><em>, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/catherine-itsiopoulos-14246">Catherine Itsiopoulos</a>, Professor and Dean, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-anderson-1412897">Kate Anderson</a>, Vice Chancellor's Senior Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/magdalena-plebanski-1063786">Magdalena Plebanski</a>, Professor of Immunology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/zhen-zheng-1321031">Zhen Zheng</a>, Associate Professor, STEM | Health and Biomedical Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-you-die-from-long-covid-the-answer-is-not-so-simple-239184">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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Police officer dies on popular beach

<p>A tragic incident unfolded at Perth’s popular Trigg Beach on Tuesday morning when an off-duty police officer lost her life after a diving accident. Emergency services responded to reports of a diver in distress around 10:30am, sparking a rapid and intensive search effort.</p> <p>An operator alerted the rescue teams over radio, saying, “You’ll see some vessels up there. We have a missing diver about 70 metres offshore.” Multiple agencies converged on the area, and the woman in her 40s was eventually located and brought to shore.</p> <p>Witnesses recalled the sombre scene, with one bystander describing the moment the searchers signalled the diver’s location: “We saw the signal when they raised their hand, saying, ‘here, it’s in this place.’ They tried to do the resuscitation.”</p> <p>Despite the immediate efforts of the responders, the woman could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene. WA Police later confirmed that the diver was a First Class Constable with the WA Police Force, off duty at the time of the incident.</p> <p>“It is with a heavy heart we confirm the diver is a sworn member of the WA Police Force,” read a statement from WA Police. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are extended to her family and colleagues.”</p> <p>The police force’s Health, Welfare and Safety Division provided support to officers and others affected, and throughout the afternoon colleagues, friends and family arrived at the beach to pay their respects, with one man appearing visibly distressed as he was comforted by the police chaplain.</p> <p>The cause of the incident remains under investigation, although authorities have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious. A report will be prepared for the coroner as the police department and local community mourn the loss of a dedicated officer.</p> <p>The family of the deceased has requested privacy during this difficult time.</p> <p><em>Images: Nine News / Seven News</em></p>

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What does a good death look like when you’re really old and ready to go?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/naomi-richards-182120">Naomi Richards</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-glasgow-1269">University of Glasgow</a></em></p> <p><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/hawaii-legalizes-assisted-suicide_us_5ac6c6f5e4b0337ad1e621fb">Hawaii</a> recently joined the growing number of states and countries where doctor-assisted dying is legal. In these jurisdictions, help to die is rarely extended to those who don’t have a terminal illness. Yet, increasingly, very old people, without a terminal illness, who feel that they have lived too long, are arguing that they also have a right to such assistance.</p> <p>Media coverage of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/05/09/this-104-year-old-plans-to-die-tomorrow-and-hopes-to-change-views-on-assisted-suicide/?utm_term=.b00a9036f9bc">David Goodall</a>, the 104-year-old Australian scientist who travelled to Switzerland for assisted dying, demonstrates the level of public interest in ethical dilemmas at the <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k1891.full">extremities of life</a>. Goodall wanted to die because he no longer enjoyed life. Shortly before his death, he told reporters that he spends most of his day just sitting. “What’s the use of that?” he asked.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953615002889?via%3Dihub">Research</a> shows that life can be a constant struggle for the very old, with social connections hard to sustain and health increasingly fragile. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25982088">Studies</a> looking specifically at the motivation for assisted dying among the very old show that many feel a deep sense of loneliness, tiredness, an inability to express their individuality by taking part in activities that are important to them, and a hatred of dependency.</p> <p>Of the jurisdictions where assisted dying is legal, some make suffering the determinant (Canada, for example). Others require a prognosis of six months (California, for example). Mainly, though, the focus is on people who have a terminal illness because it is seen as less of an ethical problem to hasten the death of someone who is already dying than someone who is simply tired of life.</p> <h2>Why give precedence to physical suffering?</h2> <p>Assisted dying for people with psychological or existential reasons for wanting to end their life is unlikely to be supported by doctors because it is not objectively verifiable and also potentially remediable. In the Netherlands, despite the legal power to offer assistance where there is no life-limiting illness, doctors are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25693947">seldom convinced</a> of the unbearable nature of non-physical suffering, and so will rarely administer a lethal dose in such cases.</p> <p>Although doctors may look to a physical diagnosis to give them confidence in their decision to hasten a patient’s death, physical symptoms are often not mentioned by the people they are assisting. Instead, the most common reason given by those who have received help to die is <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMms1700606">loss of autonomy</a>. Other common reasons are to avoid burdening others and not being able to enjoy one’s life – the exact same reason given by Goodall. This suggests that requests from people with terminal illness, and from those who are just very old and ready to go, are not as different as both the law – and doctors’ interpretation of the law – claim them to be.</p> <h2>Sympathetic coverage</h2> <p>It seems that the general public does not draw a clear distinction either. Most of the media coverage of Goodall’s journey to Switzerland was sympathetic, to the dismay of <a href="http://www.carenotkilling.org.uk/press-releases/centenarians-assisted-suicide/">opponents</a> of assisted dying.</p> <p>Media reports about <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/sep/02/mary-berry-great-british-bake-off-centenarian-assisted-dying">ageing celebrities</a> endorsing assisted dying in cases of both terminal illness and very old age, blur the distinction still further.</p> <p>One of the reasons for this categorical confusion is that, at root, this debate is about what a good death looks like, and this doesn’t rely on prognosis; it relies on <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01459740.2016.1255610">personality</a>. And, it’s worth remembering, the personalities of the very old are as diverse as those of the very young.</p> <p>Discussion of assisted suicide often focuses on concerns that some older people may be exposed to coercion by carers or family members. But older people also play another role in this debate. They make up the rank and file <a href="http://www.ep.liu.se/ej/ijal/2012/v7/i1/a01/ijal12v7i1a01.pdf">activists</a> of the global right-to-die movement. In this conflict of rights, protectionist impulses conflict with these older activists’ demands to die on their own terms and at a time of their own choosing.</p> <p>In light of the <a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/worlds-older-population-grows-dramatically">unprecedented ageing</a> of the world’s population and increasing longevity, it is important to think about what a good death looks like in deep old age. In an era when more jurisdictions are passing laws to permit doctor-assisted dying, the choreographed death of a 104-year-old, who died listening to Ode to Joy after enjoying a last fish supper, starts to look like a socially approved good death.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/96589/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/naomi-richards-182120">Naomi Richards</a>, Lecturer in Social Science (End of Life Studies), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-glasgow-1269">University of Glasgow</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-does-a-good-death-look-like-when-youre-really-old-and-ready-to-go-96589">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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Investigation launched into deaths of two police dogs

<p>Detectives are investigating the deaths of two police dogs after they were found dead in a police vehicle in Sydney's south. </p> <p>Police dog Xtra and development dog Soldier had attended a development day with their handler in Lucas Heights.</p> <p>Authorities said the two German shepherds had been kept in air-conditioned pods in the police vehicle purpose-built for them. </p> <p>Their handler made the tragic discovery when they went to check on the dogs about 12.30pm on Thursday. </p> <p>“They were taken to a specialist veterinary clinic but were unable to be revived,” NSW Police said in a statement.</p> <p>An investigation overseen by detectives from the Sutherland Police Area Command and Fleet Services is now underway.</p> <p>Authorities did not reveal any information about how they died or whether there were problems with the vehicle. </p> <p>Commissioner Karen Webb paid tribute to the highly trained German shepherds, who were vital for officers serving the community. </p> <p>“Today is a very sad day for the Dog Unit and the thoughts of the whole police family are with them,” Webb said.</p> <p>“We owe it to PD Xtra and DD Soldier to conduct a thorough investigation.”</p> <p>Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty said the loss would be felt deeply by the police officers. </p> <p>"Our focus is on the welfare of all staff involved with ongoing support services made available to them," he said.</p> <p>Xtra gained accreditation as a general-purpose dog  in 2018 while Soldier only began service with the Dog Unit in February this year for training and development.</p> <p><em>Image: NSW Police Force</em></p>

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Patti Newton's moving tribute three years on from Bert's death

<p>It's been three years since entertainment legend Bert Newton passed away, and now his wife has delivered a touching tribute on the anniversary of his death. </p> <p>Patti Newton took to Instagram to share a montage of special moments she shared with her late husband during their time together. </p> <p>“I love you. I miss your smile and your kindness but most of all I miss you,” she wrote.</p> <p>“Three years gone but a wonderful life that will never be forgotten.”</p> <p>She shared a few photos of Bert celebrating birthdays, christmas and other milestones with his grandchildren, and fans took to the comments to share their own memories of Bert. </p> <p>“A beautiful life, a beautiful family. We all still remember and love Bert alongside you xxx,” one wrote.</p> <p>“Bert was, and always will be an icon in Australian entertainment Patti. He will live in the hearts of us who had the pleasure to be entertained by him for many years. Much love to you and the family today," another commented. </p> <p>“What an extraordinary life you both lived and loved.. now Bert is your guardian Angel still loving you from above xxx,” commented a third.</p> <p>“Patti we all miss him he was sunshine to me but nobody will ever miss him like you do…true love never dies, he is always with you,” wrote a fourth. </p> <p>“Thinking of you today Patti and I’m sending you big hugs 🤗 and love," another commented. </p> <p>Bert passed away on October 30, 2021 at the age of 83 after a long health battle. He was known for a variety of TV shows including <em>The Bert Newton Show, Tonight with Bert Newton, The Don Lane Show</em> and a few others. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Boy's tragic death in school crash sparks incredible community response

<p>The 11-year-old boy who tragically died after a car <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/child-dies-after-car-crashes-through-school-gate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crashed</a> through his school's gate has been identified, with a family friend sharing more details about the horrific accident. </p> <p>Jack Davey was sitting with friends when a car slammed through a fence and into a group of Year 5 students at Auburn South Primary School on Tuesday afternoon.</p> <p>He was critically injured and died on the way to hospital, while four other children were also injured. </p> <p>School mum and friend of the family Lucy Pristel told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/incredible-response-after-boys-tragic-death-in-melbourne-school-crash-052951244.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Yahoo News</em></a> the shocking incident has "affected" the entire "close-knit" community.</p> <p>“I have no words, to be honest with you. They are the most beautiful family. They would do anything for anyone,” she said. </p> <p>Lucy's own 11-year-old son, who is also a student at the school and played basketball with Jack, witnessed the tragedy unfold before his eyes.</p> <p>"Unfortunately a lot of the kids saw what happened," she said. "It's affected everybody. The school has offered councillors to us all, so there's been a lot of support. We're a close-knit community." </p> <p>To help support the grieving family, Lucy, along with some of the other school mums, decided to launch a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-davey" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:GoFundMe;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="15" data-v9y="1">GoFundMe</a> to help "ease the burden" of funeral costs, adding, "We just wanted to make life as easy as possible." </p> <p>In a matter of hours, the fundraiser has exceeded its goal, and at the time of writing over $140,000 has bee donated by the community.</p> <p>Lucy recalled the moment she found out about the horror that unfolded at the school on Tuesday afternoon, saying she didn't realise the extent of what had happened at first. </p> <p>"I actually drove past the school after it happened and didn't think much of it," she admitted. "Then I started hearing about it."</p> <p>"I ran down to the school... you could see parents for at least 300, 400 metres and I saw everyone hugging. That's when I knew something happened at our school [and not one of the others close by]."</p> <p>Ever since then, "everyone has just bound together," she said sharing the "pure horror" felt by everyone.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

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Tragic new details emerge about baby's death in Bali

<p>Tragic new details have merged about the sudden death of a toddler, who <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/profound-grief-baby-dies-during-family-holiday-in-bali" target="_blank" rel="noopener">died</a> while on a family holiday to Bali.</p> <p>According to Indonesian police, the 14-month-old boy drowned in a villa swimming pool at Villa Besar in Kerobokan, north of Kuta in Bali. </p> <p>Police spokesperson Avitus Panjaitan told <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14017027/Tragic-new-details-emerge-cause-Australian-babys-death-Bali.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a></em> that the family did not report the death to police, and officers only found out details after interviewing resort staff.</p> <p>Staff reported that the family had returned to the villa from a water park in the evening shortly before the alarm was raised that a baby was drowning in the pool just minutes later. </p> <p>The staff recalled seeing a woman pull the baby from the water and desperately performing CPR to revive the child, but by the time paramedics arrived on the scene, the child was already deceased. </p> <p>In the wake of the tragedy, the child's father Brendan Sharp shared a gut wrenching update on Facebook, describing his son as a "one of a kind" child who filled every room with laughter and light.</p> <p>"He was always happy and cheerful, lighting up the room with whomever was there," he said.</p> <p>"His cheekiness and affection were like no other, and he was always dancing and having fun with a side of cheeky."</p> <p>"You were so special my boy - keep shining like the star you are and keep an eye on all of us down here," he said.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-grace-and-brendan-cope-with-the-loss-of-their-baby-boy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page has been set up by the family to help cover the funeral, and to allow parents Grace and Brendan time to grieve without financial pressure.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / GoFundMe</em></p>

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Child dies after car crashes through school gate

<p>One child has died and another four kids have been left injured after a car crash through a school gate in the east Melbourne suburb of Auburn. </p> <p>Emergency services were called to Auburn South Primary School in Hawthorn East on Tuesday afternoon after a car veered off the road and into the primary school's gate.</p> <p>The car collided with a table where five children were sitting. </p> <p>Two 11-year-old girls, one 10-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy were all taken to hospital with serious injuries.</p> <p>An 11-year-old boy was taken to hospital with critical injuries, and later died.</p> <p>The driver of the vehicle was identified as a 40-year-old woman who was local to the area, and was arrested at the scene. </p> <p>A primary school-aged was also in the car at the time of the crash but remained unharmed. </p> <p>Victoria Police Inspector Craig McEvoy said the driver was attempting a U-turn before veering off the road, and it appeared the crash was an accident.</p> <p>"It's tragic circumstances ... really tough for everyone involved," McEvoy said. "It's always a tough time when children are involved."</p> <p>"The ongoing investigation will take days, weeks, months," Inspector McEvoy added.</p> <p>Premier Jacinta Allan also commented on the incident, saying it should have been an "unremarkable sunny day" at the school.</p> <p>"Instead, a dark shadow has been cast over our city and state," she wrote on X.</p> <p>"I'm sending my love and thoughts to the students, their families and the whole school communityAnd my thanks to the first responders on the scene," she said.</p> <p>"I know tonight Victorians will be thinking of Auburn South Primary, and holding our kids even closer."</p> <p><em>Image credits: ABC News / Nine News </em></p>

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Who dies in a heat wave? How to help protect the vulnerable in our communities

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/myles-david-sergeant-1542267">Myles David Sergeant</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/mcmaster-university-930">McMaster University</a></em></p> <p>Extreme heat is a silent killer.</p> <p>From time to time, we hear about shocking cases of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/24/football-player-heat-deaths-athlete">football players</a> and other athletes who die suddenly while exerting themselves on hot days. Those deaths are certainly tragic, but statistically they are very rare.</p> <p>Most deaths from extreme heat <a href="https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-heat-related-deaths">are in older people</a>, who frequently die alone inside their homes. They often die slowly, as the heat creeps up to and sometimes past body temperature, especially when heat domes park themselves over cities and keep the temperature high all day and all night. When such deaths happen, they rarely make the news.</p> <p>Of all the climate change disasters our world is already experiencing, heat is the top killer, <a href="https://library.wmo.int/viewer/68500/download?file=1335_WMO-Climate-services-Health_en.pdf&amp;type=pdf&amp;navigator=1">as the World Meteorological Organization reported</a>. The planet was more than <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/08/temperatures-1-point-5c-above-pre-industrial-era-average-for-12-months-data-shows">1.5 C above the pre-industrial baseline</a> for 12 consecutive months from July 2023 to June 2024. In July this year, we saw the hottest three days ever on record, prompting <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-07-25/secretary-generals-press-conference-extreme-heat">a special statement from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres</a>.</p> <h2>Health risks and heat</h2> <p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499843/">Our bodies are made to dump excess heat</a> when we are too warm, but that process goes into reverse when the air is warmer than our core temperature. Our other main defence, sweating, doesn’t help when humidity saturates the air, making it impossible for our own moisture to evaporate.</p> <p>For the frail and elderly, who are more likely to be labouring with heart troubles, COPD or other challenges, simply sitting still in a heat wave requires an effort equivalent to walking on a treadmill. The effort is not great, but it is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjco.2021.10.002">steady and relentless</a>. It exhausts the body, sometimes to the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(22)00117-6">point of no return</a>.</p> <p>Tracking heat-related deaths is challenging, and it’s changing as authorities become more aware of heat as a contributing or underlying factor to deaths by other causes. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2006.100081">A paper published by the <em>American Journal of Public Health</em></a> points out that the 1995 heat wave in Chicago likely contributed to hundreds more deaths than had first been attributed to heat itself.</p> <h2>Who is at risk?</h2> <p>Many people lack air conditioning or a way to get to a place that has it, such as a library, recreation centre or shopping mall. As a result, too many people in cities are forced to <a href="https://wmo.int/publication-series/2023-state-of-climate-services-health">endure long waves of heat</a> — waves that are occurring more frequently, lasting longer, and reaching higher temperatures — in a trend that appears set to continue getting worse.</p> <p>Air conditioning, <a href="https://www.lpm.org/news/2015-07-24/the-history-of-movie-theaters-and-air-conditioning-that-keeps-film-lovers-cool">once a luxury that drew people to summertime movie theatres on hot nights</a>, has become a necessity. Increasingly, it is also a legal requirement, as cities pass bylaws requiring landlords not to allow the temperature in their tenants’ quarters to rise above a certain level. Toronto has <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/home/311-toronto-at-your-service/find-service-information/article/?kb=kA06g000001xvbiCAA">such a bylaw</a> for rental units that have air conditioning available, capping indoor temps at 26 C between June 2 and Sept. 14.</p> <p>Such laws recognize the vulnerability of tenants who lack control over the temperature in their rental units, making heat death an especially urban tragedy, as confirmed in <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/82-003-x/2024006/article/00001-eng.pdf?st=e6jLNMuq">a recent Statistics Canada study</a> between 2000 and 2020. Deaths from extreme heat were more likely in cities with a higher percentage of renter households.</p> <p>During a single week-long heat wave in June 2021 — the year after the period captured in the Statistics Canada study — <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-heat-dome-sudden-deaths-570-1.6122316">B.C.’s chief coroner found that 570 people died from heat-related causes</a> — 79 per cent of them were seniors.</p> <h2>Taking action at the community level</h2> <p>From this Global North perspective, the community members who are most likely to die from extreme heat included:</p> <ul> <li>Those over 65</li> <li>Those with more than one chronic condition (including hypertension, mental health, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease)</li> <li>Socially disadvantaged populations in our communities</li> <li>Those with mobility issues</li> <li>Those experiencing social isolation (living alone)</li> <li>Tenants with lack of air conditioning</li> <li>Those living in an urban heat island</li> </ul> <p>This problem is not going away.</p> <p>Some of the <a href="https://www.intactcentreclimateadaptation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/UoW_ICCA_2022_04-Irreversible-Extreme-Heat.pdf">actions we can take</a> to protect our most vulnerable community members include:</p> <ul> <li>Increase awareness that excessive heat is not merely uncomfortable, but dangerous.</li> <li>Make sure people are warned about impending heat waves.</li> <li>Advocate for everyone to have access to air conditioning.</li> <li>Check on and support people who live alone, especially those with no air conditioning.</li> <li>Invite people over if you have air conditioning, or help them get to community cooling stations.</li> <li>Help vulnerable people who do not have air conditioning to improvise, by freezing wet cloths, for example, to take out and hang around their necks. Doing this, especially with a fan blowing, can be surprisingly effective.</li> <li>Learn and share the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/fact-sheet-staying-healthy-heat.html">warning signs of heat-related illness</a>.</li> <li>Make sure they drink plenty of water and other replenishing fluids.</li> </ul> <p>While we must do our best to limit climate change to keep our planet from getting ever hotter, we must also make every effort to protect the vulnerable from the impacts of the heat that is already here.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. 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More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/myles-david-sergeant-1542267">Myles David Sergeant</a>, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/mcmaster-university-930">McMaster University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/who-dies-in-a-heat-wave-how-to-help-protect-the-vulnerable-in-our-communities-236829">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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Aussie mum jailed after faking her own death for major insurance payout

<p>A Perth woman who faked her own death to secure a $700,000 insurance payout has been sentenced to three years behind bars. </p> <p>Karen Salkilld, 43, an F45 gym franchise owner, claimed she died in a car accident in Broome in December 2023. </p> <p>The mother-of-two, also provided a falsified death certificate, a coroner report and funeral documents, when she made the claim in January.</p> <p>A month later, she received more than $718,000 from Insuranceline, which she accessed by posing as her former partner who was the beneficiary of the sum and opening a bank account in her name. </p> <p>The "relatively sophisticated" scheme was initially successful, until police became suspicious and froze her account after she moved large amounts of the money around, according to<em> Nine News</em>. </p> <p>Salkilld had to visit Palmyra Police Station in person to certify her fake documents, but after three visits, officers realised something was up and arrested her in March. </p> <p>There is no evidence that her former partner knew of the crime. </p> <p>The fitness instructor admitted that she got the idea from a movie after she fell into debt, although she didn't specify which one. </p> <p>"Your offending could not be described as opportunistic," Judge Vicki Stewart told Perth District Court said in sentencing the fitness instructor. </p> <p>"It was calculated and required both effort and persistence."</p> <p>"You were living beyond your means and over-committed yourself," Stewart added. </p> <p>Salkilld pleaded guilty to gaining benefit by fraud and knowingly using a false record to defraud, and was sentenced to three years in prison on Monday. </p> <p>She was ordered to pay a $101,771 compensation to the insurance company. A restitution order for funds in the bank account was also issued - one for $549,195 and another for $67,995 - with the latter being held in the bank's fraud recoveries account. </p> <p>Speaking to <em>Nine News</em> outside court after the sentencing, Salkilld's estranged sister Ann said "it doesn't surprise me that she is capable of doing things like that."</p> <p>She will be eligible for parole in February 2026.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine News </em></p>

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